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I've been with DTV since 2007. I got them through a package when I first signed up with my phone service. I HAD an R15 and another SD box. After 10 years of ownership, I finally got a chance to upgrade my SD tube set. It seemed like a good time to upgrade my DTV equipment as well, considering how crap SD looks on an HD set. I've been out of contract for 3 years. In the 5 years I've been with DTV, I've not asked them for any other upgrades or price credits.

end BG

The week of Thanksgiving I called in to DTV's service line to see if anything could be done to upgrade my flakey R15 and get into an HD setup. I didn't really go in expecting much, just hopeful in getting upgraded without getting dinged too badly. The phone rep and I walked through what I wanted (whole home DVR, HD, DVR). It turns out, I got all of that and a new Dish (SWM) for no increase in my bill. Well, excepting the 10/mo HD charge. I got a 15/mo credit for a year to off set that.

I thought I got a good deal, until my other half let it be known what she ACTUALLY wanted from the new system. She said she wanted to be able to watch shows in any room. That tells my "whole home DVR". What we wanted in reality was the ability to record HBO/Showtime stuffs in the bedroom AND be able to view things from the living room in the bedroom. That, actually means two DVRs. Well frick. None of this was made clear to me until after the installers came in and were done.

In order to get the new equipment to me, I had to pay a $20 shipping and handling charge. Ok, fine, so be it. Except the equipment wasn't shipped to me. It was shipped to the tech doing the dish install. That, just seems really odd to me. It seems to leave a fair amount of "Bad Things" to enter the equation.

Another odd thing. I noticed a fair amount of scratching on the front of the HR-24. It came out of a sealed box in plastic, so I figured maybe something happened during shipping. Today I tore apart my entertainment area to account for the shift to all things HD. The HR24 DTV gave me is a refurbed unit, and THAT's why it's scratched all to hell and back.

I'd really like to shift the HR24 to the bedroom, and get an HR34 or another HR24 for the living room. This way, the wife can be happy about recording "not kid safe" shows in a place where they cannot see the titles. The issue? I'm all out of good luck mojo, and DTV wants $200 for an HR24 and $300 for an HR34 at present.

So to the questions:

Is it normal practice to ship out refurbed units on new equipment installs?? These DVR boxes have always been on the flaky side, and I'm not at all pleased that they gave me a refurb out the gate.

Can I use this in any way to come back to DTV and barter down the price of an HR34 or 24? Yes, I know, I should have researched things better before getting into a new contract. Regardless, I cannot see paying that much money for leased equipment. I expect nothing, don't feel at all entitled, just feeling a bit burned on the refurb bit.

What's a reasonable amount of time to wait before I can hope (not expect, HOPE) to get a reasonable price on an HR34? I'm down with $100, but not at $300.

To be honest, in some ways you are lucky that you ended up with a 24, even refurb. You could just have easily been sent an HR21. Refurb is the general norm, though I agree it at least shouldn't look like it fell off the back of the truck.

I don't understand this "equipment roulette" nonsense. Is the only reliable way to obtain a particular model buying it from a third-party vendor like Solid Signal? And doesn't D* still treat it like a lease?

Pardon me if this has been addressed, but if I were to "buy" an HR34 from somewhere like amazon, is it "mine"? Or does DTV own it? I get the fact that I'll then likely have to pay $5/mo to lease from them, but if the box isn't actually mine to do what I will with, I cannot see paying that much money.

I don't understand this "equipment roulette" nonsense. Is the only reliable way to obtain a particular model buying it from a third-party vendor like Solid Signal? And doesn't D* still treat it like a lease?

Good grief, these people are loan sharks.

Yes. Directv has no problems "selling" you a used HR then selling it to someone else, then to someone else ......

Pardon me if this has been addressed, but if I were to "buy" an HR34 from somewhere like amazon, is it "mine"? Or does DTV own it? I get the fact that I'll then likely have to pay $5/mo to lease from them, but if the box isn't actually mine to do what I will with, I cannot see paying that much money.

It would be leased. The only way to "own" an HR34, if it's even possible, is to buy it from DirecTV at their full price. ($299 is NOT the price to own)

I don't understand this "equipment roulette" nonsense. Is the only reliable way to obtain a particular model buying it from a third-party vendor like Solid Signal? And doesn't D* still treat it like a lease?

Good grief, these people are loan sharks.

Or you can buy an Owned HR24 or whatever DVR you want sometimes on Ebay.

I have bought 4 Owned HR24-500s that way and then I can open it up and put a 2 TB Drive in it and be done with it.

Just make sure you ask the Access Card Dept. if the RID # of the DVR indicates that it is indeed Owned.

I don't understand this "equipment roulette" nonsense. Is the only reliable way to obtain a particular model buying it from a third-party vendor like Solid Signal? And doesn't D* still treat it like a lease?

Good grief, these people are loan sharks.

Depending on what you what and are willing to pay for no. If you want to own a HR21 pro you probably could get that directly from DirecTV or a HD TiVo or a HR34 all you can specify. Its just when it does not matter the model number for your needs. If you just need a HD DVR then a HR20, HR21, HR22, HR23 or a HR24 would all fit that bill.

Okay Ophbalance, the only only way to know is to just call them back and say that it turns out you wanted a different setup and explain the difference. It would be alot more money for DirecTV to be out so dont be surprised if they do say no. You would need a SWM 16 I think for the tuners (9) and more lines ran then you currently have. Also you would be seeking a deal for a HR34 and another HR24. You wont get anything if you dont call and ask. Your biggest thing going for you is that this is the first time in 5 years you have dont anything. Good luck and let us know what comes of this.

Okay Ophbalance, the only only way to know is to just call them back and say that it turns out you wanted a different setup and explain the difference. It would be alot more money for DirecTV to be out so dont be surprised if they do say no. You would need a SWM 16 I think for the tuners (9) and more lines ran then you currently have. Also you would be seeking a deal for a HR34 and another HR24. You wont get anything if you dont call and ask. Your biggest thing going for you is that this is the first time in 5 years you have dont anything. Good luck and let us know what comes of this.

It would surprise, but not shock, me if they didn't install the SWM 16 already. Is there any way to verify the model number of the dish? And/or the little node all the cables run into?

I have called, and the response was to spend $200 for an HR24 or spend $300 for an HR34. Or, alternately, call back in a month and see if there's anything they'll offer then.

Essentially, unless I outright pay the fine for my lack of foresight/want it now syndrome, I'll just have to play CSR roulette for the next few months until I hit upon one that can help me get a second DVR without selling a child into slavery.

The month delay is mostly just a delaying tactic, imo. Since you just signed up, when you call the next time tell them you had talked about whole home but that isn't what was set up for you. You might get some sort of discount that way. And of course, you can always play CSR roulette to your heart's content if you have the patience.

As to a SWM 16, no they didn't install one of those for a single unit install, they are much too expensive and aren't needed. In fact, if you had one HR34 or one HR24, you wouldn't need one then either.

As to a SWM 16, no they didn't install one of those for a single unit install, they are much too expensive and aren't needed. In fact, if you had one HR34 or one HR24, you wouldn't need one then either.

The most accurate thing said thus far. With an HR34 and HR24 you only have 7 tuners and there would be no need for anything higher than a SWM8. Having been setup with an HR24 and another HD receiver, you are only at 3 tuners which still has plenty of room to play with a SWM8. With that setup, I would assume the SWM is built into the dish and you probably do not have an external unit.

The most accurate thing said thus far. With an HR34 and HR24 you only have 7 tuners and there would be no need for anything higher than a SWM8. Having been setup with an HR24 and another HD receiver, you are only at 3 tuners which still has plenty of room to play with a SWM8. With that setup, I would assume the SWM is built into the dish and you probably do not have an external unit.

No clue on where the SWM is. I don't recall seeing anything but the dish, the new switch thing, and the power inverter. I'll be up on the roof again in a month to pull down lights, but otherwise it probably doesn't matter. I don't use anything but two two rooms for TV viewing, so 7 tuners would be fine.

No clue on where the SWM is. I don't recall seeing anything but the dish, the new switch thing, and the power inverter. I'll be up on the roof again in a month to pull down lights, but otherwise it probably doesn't matter. I don't use anything but two two rooms for TV viewing, so 7 tuners would be fine.

Sounds like you have an integrated SWM. Does the "new switch thing" look like a traditional coax splitter with a green sticker on it?